Rolling hoop device



Feb. 10, 1970 J. KLIMKO 3,494,069

ROLLING HOOP DEVICE Filed April 23, 1968 1M 14-4 d4 UINVENTOR.

rum/vars United States Patent O 3,494,069 ROLLING HOOP DEVICE Joseph Klimko, 3244 Powers Way, Youngstown, Ohio 44502 Filed Apr. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 723,427 Int. Cl. A63h 33/02 U.S. Cl. 46-220 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rolling hoop device for exercise, determination of skill, establishment of coordination, and for amusement, comprising a plurality of hoops of substantial progressively smaller diameters, the largest being adapted for rolling along the ground, and the other or others rolling within the largest and within each other.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Heretofore rolling hoop toys have been well known, either of the single hoop variety adapted to be propelled along the ground by a stick or T-shaped strike or pusher member, or of the push or pull toy variety wherein a plurality of hoops of substantially varying diameters are nested, one within the other, but held by side guide means against lateral separation.

The single hoop variety is well known to many youngsters, and in the early days barrel stays were used as hoops and ordinary sticks used to propel the same along the ground.

As youngsters become older and more sophisticated, the single hoop loses its appeal, and the push or pull toy variety is considered too juvenile. My invention provides nested rolling hoops which require a degree of skill to manipulate properly, and therefore adds zest to the rolling hoop sport. Further, my invention provides nesting hoops having complementary surfaces which interfit and tend to maintain the hoops in proper operating relationship when a certain degree of coordination and skill is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing accompanying this description and forming a part of this specification, there is shown an embodiment which may invention may assume, and in this drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of three nested hoops, in relation to be rolled along the ground, and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary section, corresponding generally to the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although FIGURE 1 discloses use of three hoops 10, 11 and 12, only two, or more than three hoops may be used. The degree of difference in the diameters of the three hoops may be used, although it is preferred that the difference be of a uniform ratio. In one instance, I have made the outer hoop 10 fifteen inches in diameter, the intermediate hoop 11 eleven inches in diameter, and the smallest hoop 12 seven inches in diameter, each of the hoops 10, 11 and 12 being about an inch and a quarter wide. It will be understood that the specific dimensions given are illustrative only, and may be varied in accordance with choice.

The hoops 10, 11 and 12 are preferably of similar cross-section and are provided with grooves 10.1, 11.1 and 12.1 in their outer peripheral surfaces, as seen in FIGURE 2. The grooves may be of any desired configuration, the only requirement being that the groove 11.1 receives the complementary inner peripheral surface of the outer hoop; likewise the groove 12.1 receives the com- Claims plementary inner peripheral surface of the intermediate hoop 11.

In the illustrated example, the grooves 10.1, 11.1 and 12.1 are formed on a radius of one-half inch and each hoop is formed with an inner peripheral surface 10.3, 11.3 and 12.3 which is curved in cross-section, preferably along a radius of seven-sixteenths of an inch. Thus, the hoops 10, 11 and 12 interfit comfortably, as seen in FIG- URE 2, for free rolling action, one within the other.

The groove 10.1 in the hoop 10 and the inner curved surface 12.3 of the hoop 12 may be omitted, if desired, and the parts reshaped to be flat across, although it is preferred that hoop 10 be formed with the groove 10.1, for a purpose to appear.

The hoops are respectively formed with circular lands 10.4, 11.4 and 12.4, the lands 10.4 providing flat areas which are adapted to roll along the ground or similar surface and are adapted to maintain the hoop 10 upright. The lands 11.4 engage and roll along the fiat band areas on the inner periphery of the hoop 10, and the lands 12.4 engage and roll along the flat band areas on the inner periphery of the hoop 11.

Thus, although the interengaging lands and interfitting grooves and curved surfaces tend to maintain the three hoops within a plane 14, it still requires a degree of skill to retain the hoops in this plane, particularly when the outer hoop is propelled along the ground. As seen in FIGURE 1, a T-shaped member 15 may be used to either strike or push against the outer hoop to propel the same. It will be noted that the leg 15.1 overlies the head 15.2 of the T so that the groove 10.1 will comfortably receive the leg 15.1, as suggested in FIGURE 2. Thus, the outer hoop 10, either alone or assembled with the hoops 11 and 12, may be rolled down leg 15.1 when the latter is held in position inclined to the ground, in order to start rolling action of the hoops. The hoops 10, 11 and 12 may be of different colors or color combinations and present a striking appearance when rolling along the ground with the hoops 11 and 12 rolling relative to each other and to hoop 10.

I claim:

1. A device for exercise and amusement, comprising a plurality of hoops of progressively smaller diameters mounted wholly within each other, said hoops having cooperating complementary inner and outer surfaces to enable a smaller diameter hoop to roll along the inner peripheral surface of a larger diameter hoop.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the largest diameter hoop is adapted to be rolled along the ground and similar supporting surface.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein three hoops are utilized, one being of a relatively large diameter for rolling along the ground and similar supporting surface, another being of a substantially smaller diameter, and the third being of further substantially smaller diameter.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the intermediate diameter hoop has a groove in its outer periphery into which fits a complementary inner peripheral surface of the largest diameter hoop, and the smallest diameter hoop has a groove in its outer periphery into which fits a complementary inner peripheral surface of the intermediate hoop, the largest diameter hoop being adapted to roll along the ground and similar supporting surface, the intermediate diameter hoop being adapted to roll along the inner peripheral surface of said largest diameter hoop, and the smallest diameter hoop being adapted to roll along the inner peripheral surface of said intermediate diameter hoop.

5. The device of claim 4, and further including a groove in the outer peripheral surface of said largest diameter hoop, and a rod-like member having a cross- 3 4 section complementary to such groove and along which 2,381,581 8/ 1945 Entringcr 4622O said largest diameter hoop may be rolled. 2,613,476 10/1952 Metz 4622O 3,086,315 10/1960 Fasano 46220 References Clted 1,216,589 2/1917 Meyner 46220 UNITED STATES PATENTS ANTONIO F. GUIDA, P E 480,619 8/1892 Park 46220 nmry Xammef 1 953 42 10 1932 Mills 46 2201 JAMES W. MITCHELL, ASS StaHt Examlner 

